Southern Justice, Part 22

I’m Fixin’ To present part 22 of Southern Justice:

Chris Adams had a business appointment scheduled for later in the day, after the appointment with Jackie’s lawyer; consequently he drove to B. Wendell’s office separately from Rick Junior, Jones and Vickie and arrived prior to them. Not sure if they were ahead or behind him, he made his way to the outer door of B. Wendell Hormel’s law office.

When he opened the door and entered the first thing he saw was a rather plain appearing young woman with a bad haircut who was sitting behind the reception desk, apparently in a trance. For just a moment or two, he studied her before he spoke, wishing her a good morning. Even then, she just stared at him and he had to tell her why he was there before he got a response.

Chris marveled as the dark shade of crimson slowly began to fade from her face before she said, “Oh, yes, you must be Mr. Haselton. If you’ll please follow me I’ll escort you directly to the conference room.”

Patty Osborn was half-way out of her chair when Chris stopped her by saying, “No, I’m not Mr. Haselton. My name is Chris Adams. I’m a business associate of his.”

Chris had extended his hand when he introduced himself. Patty took it as she sank back down into her chair and didn’t release it until he shifted his eyes from her face to their locked hands. He watched her face color again as she pulled her hand back as she said, “I-I don’t understand. We were expecting Mr. Haselton Junior, not an associate.”

“Oh, he’ll be along momentarily, along with two more associates. Do you mind if I just wait here for them?” Chris asked.

“Not-not-not at all, sir,” Patty stuttered. “Please have a seat and excuse me for a moment.”

As soon as she had left the room Chris checked his fly and inspected himself while he wondered what had affected the woman so much.

Patty went directly toward B. Wendell’s office and entered without knocking. B. Wendell and Jackie looked up at her as he asked, “Is our guest settled in the conference room?”

“No,” she told him. “There’s a small complication.”

“Are you alright Patty?” Jackie asked. “You look a little flustered.”

“I’m fine,” Patty answered. The complication is that a Mister Chris Adams is here, and he informed me that Mr. Haselton and two other associates will be arriving shortly.”

“What! What other people?” B. Wendell strongly inquired as he rose from his chair. “Who do you think they might be, Jackie?”

“I’m sure one of them will be Jones. I have no idea who the other one might be.”

“What do you want me to do?” Patty inquired.

B. Wendell sank back into his chair, thought for a moment or two before he said, “When they all arrive tell them our meeting is with Junior only, and the rest of them can wait in the reception area, or leave.”

When Patty returned to the reception area the others had arrived. Besides Chris, there were two more gentlemen and a lady. As she approached them she asked, “Which of you is Mister Haselton?”

Chris couldn’t make eye contact with her as he observed her eyes dart from Jones to Rick Junior, who stepped forward and said, “Hello, I’m Rick Haselton, Junior, and this is Ms. Bain—–”

“Excuse me, Mister Haselton,” Patty interjected, “but Mr. Hormel has asked me to inform you that the meeting is private and that you may excuse your associates.”

Rick Junior didn’t blink nor hesitate even one second before replying with a polite smile, “You may advise Mr. Hormel that my associates will indeed attend, or else there will be no meeting.”

There was an awkward silence before Rick Junior added, “And we would appreciate a prompt response.”

Without a word Patty turned and left the room again. Thirty seconds later she returned and announced: “The meeting will be in the conference room. Please follow me.”

After the four of them had been seated on one side of the large table for five minutes, a side door opened and Jackie, Patty Osborn and Ray McKenley entered the room, followed, a moment later by B. Wendell.

The second he entered the room, Chris, seated next to Vickie, heard her little gasp from her. It was one of recognition.

While introductions were being made around the table she passed a little note to Chris. It read, “Something’s not right here!”

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